It shouldn’t have happened like this…that my 13,000th fell at the same time as Kat’s major landmark post. I decided to wait until she finished posting hers and had had a chance to enjoy the moment before I put my next landmark out there.

Not that I would steal the limelight.

On purpose.

Unless it was easy and I could get away with it.

So, what should one talk about upon reaching this lofty number of posts? By rights, I should have an example to go by. Tom D posted his 13 thousandth some time ago. He’s well on his way to 14,000!!!

But he tells us NOTHING! He flaunts his post count like it is no big deal, just a natural by-product of being here a long time and having a lot to say.

We know that’s not the case.

At any rate (1.86 mps-squared), it is my honor to be the first to post a 13,000 landmark thread in the history of the internet. I’d like to thank all the people who made this possible. First, I’d like to thank God, because God may or may not have had a direct hand in my posts, but future generations may decide He did, in which case it would be really cheesy to read in future scripture that I failed to thank the divine inspirator for all that has happened.

Next, I would like to retroactively pray that I reach 13,000 posts. Whoa! Cool, it worked!

Thirdly (are we up to three yet?) I think it’s important to recognize the contributions of our hosts and moderators. All joking aside, I feel like I’ve learned a lot here at Hatrack, met some wonderful people, and even changed as a result of hearing what some very intelligent and friendly people have to say. This is my favorite place on the web. If you served food, it’d be my favorite place on Earth.

And now, all of my fellow Jatraqueros. What can I say to you but that I enjoy a reputation here that is undeservedly positive. To be held in such fond regard by people like you all is truly humbling and it makes me want to work harder to be the person you obviously think I am. This place is a virtual world and we could easily give in to the kinds of negative attitudes that seem to permeate the web. But we don’t…usually. And even though we are all just nice people in general, I have to say that my conscience sometimes pricks me when I think of how accepting you all are. It’s become a cliché to say that “you make me want to be a better person.” So I’ll just say that you make me want to be the person you seem to think I am. And that’s a good thing to shoot for.

It occurs to me that I haven’t given you any sort of update on my post-divorce excursion through life. It is now going on 6 months (end of February will be the half-year mark). In the interim, I’ve shared some things with you like finding out I have high blood pressure and cholesterol. Yeah, big surprise. I think the doctor could’ve diagnosed that over the phone. But I have to say that the medication is helping. Either that, or I’m recovering from the personality fracturing that necessarily comes with a divorce. I find myself being mostly positive about my life and the future. I also think I’m being mostly realistic as I don’t think I’m too self-effacing but I’m also not deluding myself regarding things like career, love life, or my relationship with God. (he never calls, he never writes…)

Anyway, I know a lot of divorced people long for the point at which they decide they simply “like themselves.” I’ve never not liked myself, so I’m not really having that problem. I’ve got some thingsI ought to change, and maybe I need to decide to be a little less comfortable. But, you know what…I’m also supposed to be older, wiser, and, yes, more content.

So, my career is great. I make enough money to only have to worry about when it might end. Government contracting is like that. But for now, I’m doing okay as opposed to all prior years of my adult life, which were a constant struggle not to lose whatever ground I’d gained. No hard feelings about that, but it is a bit depressing to think that a well-educated American should have to worry about living paycheck-to-paycheck well into their 40’s. Not that I wanted things handed to me, but I didn’t want them to be quite so easy to erase…

And then there’s love. Love is something I hope I’m better at the next time. I long for a comfortable relationship full of laughter and maybe even children. Which could be unfair given that I’d be old by the time the kids were grown and the possibility of not seeing them grow up, and leaving a future spouse a widow with kids to raise really gives me pause. But I know I’d be a great dad, given the chance. And frankly, I should’ve straightened this out a long time ago, but I was also in love with a woman who definitely didn’t want children. And it must be obvious by now that I can find other things to be happy about even if EVERYTHING doesn’t go my way.

(Despite claims to the contrary, I’m actually pretty low maintenance as long as I feel like the people I love also love me in return. Lacking that, I find I probably crave attention a little too much, but the trick is to not get to that point, neh?)

I continue to NOT date, by choice. It is a good thing that will run it’s course before too long. I already see signs in myself of no longer being in the post-divorce toxic phase. People are trying to set me up on blind dates with other people they actually like (as opposed to enemies), which means I must be doing okay in their eyes. I haven’t actually gone on one of these dates yet, but it could be happening sometime in the next month or so, give or take, whatever.

I do have female (and male) friends. None of us sleep together, unless collapsing on the couch during a particularly boring movie counts. And I submit that it does not because the couch is off-limits for bodily fluids of all kinds. One of my little house rules. Like staying off the lawn.

I’m enjoying my new surroundings. The furniture buying spree is almost done. I thought I was done until I saw this lamp at an auction this weekend. It was Sooooo cool. So, maybe I’ll still end up buying things here and there. I still have to figure out what to do in the main living room. I really want a music room, but I question whether I would ever have the time or inclination to learn to play anything but the drums. I need Caleb to come and give me piano lessons. He’s really good!

It looks like my mom is going to come out for a visit in February. This will be a good time to show her that I’m not self-destructing or liable to marry the first female that “gets her hooks into me.” (LOL…that was my mom’s big worry when my brother and I were in high school. That some girl would see what great guys we were and want to get pregnant. With us! Thus…the hooks.) Well, it actually sort of did happen, almost, to my brother, but the she-devil of Santa Barbara married some other poor schmo and started having his babies instead. And my brother went on to marry someone truly wonderful and now has three terrific sons to carry on the family name. Bob.

Now me, no-one ever got their hooks into me. But who knows, it could still happen. Some gold-digger without proper respect for lawny boundaries might just saunter in through the front door and…oh, hang on, someone’s at the door.……I’m back. Man, there must be a new crop of LDS missionaries in town. Y’all wear very nice clothing.

Oh where was I? Yeah, some Mormon missionary might saunter up and get her hooks into…

No, that wasn’t it.

Darn, I’ve forgotten what we were talking about.

So, anyway, I’m not dating. I’m not a stud muffin. Or any other kind of muffin that I know of. Maybe a bran muffin? I get to walk my dog every morning. And come home to a comfortable house. The TREADWELL house, by the way. In case you didn’t know. And I sit and read, watch movies, or visit Hatrack.

That’s my life pretty much during the week.

On the weekends, I’m still rearranging things in the house, then I go for longer walks with the dog and then hit the antique stores, or ride the motorcycle, or just go to friends houses and mooch off of them. Most of my friends are great cooks. I wonder how that came to pass?

I’ve had one dinner party here so far. I’ll probably do another one soon. It’s kind of fun to sit around and laugh with old friends and new.

I’m looking forward to ChicagoCon. I’m really hoping that nothing interferes. I’ll put my vacation on the schedule in the next week or so, so that everyone in the office plans around it too.

It’ll be so cool!

Especially if I get a “Kiss Me I’m a Jatraquero” t-shirt. And it actually works!

And now, I figure I’ve said far too much for a silly landmark post. I hope that this made at least some sense to all of you.

posted January 26, 200409:16 PM
Leonide, I started a fan club for Bob over a year ago. You can be president, though, because the duties are too much for me! *grin* Truth be told, there probably was a fan club for Bob even before I was on Hatrack, this may be its third or fourth or FIFTH incarnation~!

Bob is my hero.

I want to be Bob when I 'grow up'.

Bob, you ARE the man we all think you are. You just don't know it yet.

Blessings on you and the Treadwell house. May you live to be a healthy one hundred and one years old (because dying when you are one hundred is just cliche), with children and grandchildren underscoring their names _Scopatz!

But seriously. Whatever you think about yourself, you really are a good guy. And smart, funny, witty and cool. When I think back on the time I spent visiting with you, I realize that even though I was nervous about meeting weird internet strangers, talking with you was nice and normal. Which almost leads me to believe that you are nice and normal. But then I read your posts and decide... no.. No no. (laughs)

Anyway, don't worry too much about trying to be the person we think you are. (I'd worry more about trying NOT to be the person you write about in the One Line Descriptions thread... (laughs)) Just be who you are and be happy. As long as you're posting, as long as you keep in touch, as long as you keep traveling all over the country and visiting us, as long as you're you and your home is open for those of us who can to visit, you ARE the person we think you are.

I hope I can see you at the ChicagoCon, Bob! Keep up the good work. ^_^
Posts: 4812 | Registered: Apr 2003
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However, you never answered my question about what my son's choice of chocolate ice cream indicated about his personality. *grin* He prefers it on a cone, but must have it in a bowl right now, because of his recent surgery.

Sadly, ice cream made him cry yesterday (he wasn't ready for it yet), but I'm sure it will make a comeback very soon!

Please analyze my son!

On topic: Bob_Scopatz is a pillar of Hatrack Society, and I'm not just sucking up! Posts: 1545 | Registered: May 2002
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posted January 27, 200412:14 AM
Must be something in the water. My mom says Lithium was discovered in the water in Texas. I'll have to go back and see when this divorce happened. That was back when I didn't really know who was who except for Amka and Kayla. But now I know Katharina, Bob, and Rhaegar the Fool. Edit: Eeek! That was my post 1900

posted January 27, 200412:23 AM
I have a tendency to read posts before I look to see who posted. 9 times out of 10, if I've been tickled to tears, it's a watery "Bob_Scopatz" I see on the left. Sign me up for the fan club and keep 'em comin', Bob.
Posts: 1090 | Registered: Oct 2003
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I wasn't kidding in the other thread Bob. You have many tons of qualities that I (and a lot of other girls) want in a guy. I really admire you though and I'm so glad you're here. Please don't ever go away. (((Bob)))

posted January 27, 200404:33 AM
Just realized that my stupid sister and her stupid wedding (actually, I love my sister) are going to keep me from Bike Week this year.

Dammit, as tame as Bob sounds on...um...virtual paper, I'll bet he's a blast to party with.

I hope you make it to Chicago, too, Bob. I propose a real-life drunken BTQ thread.

And bring all your Beatles albums, too, so we can sit and analyze them...and so Greg and I can prove to you just how much better Abbey Road is than Rubber Soul. Posts: 5257 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted January 27, 200410:26 AM
You know, I read somewhere that human life expectancy is going to be at around 140 in the next 20 years or so. I might even get to meet my great-great grandchildren at that rate. Unless my stinking ingrate offspring decide to wait until they're my age to have children.

<vows to become a dad>

Well, shoot, I guess I'd better start getting in shape too, so I'm not just one of those porch dads, or worse yet, a couch dad. Or the walker and O-2 bottle dad...

I need to be at least a bicycle, swimming and basketball dad.

Hmm...let's see.

Bob if it's a boy.Bobbie if it's a girl.

And if we're not sure....Hmm...

I thought of a great post-divorce shirt. Instead of "I'm with stupid" with an arrow pointing to the left (or right, as the case may be), how about a shirt that says:

Though your second one reminds me of a recent conversation with my sister. She said that she liked the name Serkis (like Andy Serkis from LotR) and that it would be cool to have that last name. Then I said that if that were her name, she could marry someone whose last name was Freak, except that it would have to be spelled different (because Serkis isn't spelled like "circus"). So we came up with Phrique. Too bad it's not a real name, 'cause Serkis-Phrique would be a cool last name.